We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like typical physical horror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when the couple move from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the sort of issues that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
